Father charged with DUI in fiery crash that injured four children

Authorities say the man who crashed into a light pole with his children in the vehicle had eight drinks at a Perdido Key bar before getting behind the wheel.

The driver, Jeffrey Scott Touzet, 47, and his four children were all transported to the hospital following the Nov. 10 crash during which the vehicle caught fire.

Touzet wasn't charged at the time, pending further investigation. On Jan. 22, FHP filed a warrant affidavit for Touzet's arrest. The man turned himself in to authorities on Jan. 24, according to FHP spokesman Lt. Eddie Elmore.

Crash witnesses said Touzet had been passing vehicles on the Perdido Key Bridge in a no-passing zone before the crash, and he had been speeding. They said at the first intersection off the bridge, the vehicle entered the left turn lane but then made an abrupt right turn, causing it to leave the roadway and collide with a light pole.

The charging documents state Touzet originally told police he was driving home from work when he lost control of the vehicle, but video and cash receipts from the Perdido Beach resort at which Touzet works allegedly shows he ordered eight drinks between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The crash happened at about 10:30 p.m.

When the investigating trooper interviewed Touzet in the hospital, he allegedly appeared to be under the influence as his speech was slurred, his face was flushed and he had glassy eyes. A blood test collected with a signed warrant showed Touzet had a blood alcohol content of 0.12.